“This house is always going to be quiet now, I should get used to it. Laughter will no longer run rampant through the hallways, decorating each room.”

“I am breathless, hopeless, and consumed. I now know that I am between balloons.”

“I think of all the things I will miss. I think about coffee, red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, Little Women, and Channing Tatum. Oh, how I will miss Channing Tatum.”

“I hate flowers. They’re all ‘Look at me - I make food out of sunshine.’ It’s such bullshit.”

“Everyone absolutely knows what a strawberry tastes like, even if you are allergic to them. Everyone absolutely knows what the toilet flushing sounds like. Everyone absolutely scratches their mosquito bites. And I know that I was absolutely ready to die. This wasn't a cry for help. I didn't want to be saved. I was ready to call it quits. Done. Terminado.”

“Our kitchen is stuffed with enough food to feed a small country. The refrigerator is full as are all of the counters. Liechtenstein can have it all. I don’t understand how broccoli casserole and Shepherd’s pie is supposed to help me forget that I won’t be seeing my mom anymore.”

“He leans against me and gives a gentle push. I resist curving my neck into that place on his shoulder.”